The lower Palaeolithic industries of seaside Dagestan (on materials of Rubas-1 site)

The Rubas-1 is situated on the right bank of the Rubas River (Seaside Dagestan). Archaeological works here has begun in 2006. A thin gravel and pebble layer (No. 5) bearing some flint rocks was discovered at the depth of 16 m; some pieces of flint demonstrate signs of artificial flaking. In the course of works, the excavation area was extended and reached approximately 200 m 2 at the level of the lowest culture-bearing layer (No. 5). In 2006–2012, artifact complex (147 flints) was found in the gravel-pebble layer 5, which appears to have formed in the breaker zone of the ancient beach during the initial stage of sea transgression. The composition of paleontological and palynological dates together with the noted lithological features suggests that sedimentation took place in the brackish sea water during the Akchagyl period of the Late Pliocene (N 2 3 ak). In general, the Lower Paleolithic technocomplex of Rubas 1 site is characterized by small artifacts size, poorly expressed typological features, and variability of tool shapes. The preliminary age estimate of the sediments together with specific features of major categories of typologically distinct artifacts makes it possible to attribute the Rubas-1 collection to the industry of small tools of the early Lower Palaeolithic.